‘We’re pleased to have reached this important milestone’
An artist’s impression of Keepmoat Homes’ plan for 260 new homes on Brislington Meadows in South Bristol(Image: Keepmoat)
A plan to build 260 new homes on a much-fought-over area of meadows on the edge of Bristol has taken another step forward, with developers submitting a detailed planning application to CIty Hall.
There is already outline planning permission to build the homes on Brislington Meadows, and now developer Keepmoat is asking the city council to give the go-ahead to their detailed ‘reserve matters’ plan before work can get under way.
Brislington Meadows was the site former mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees declared would never be built on, as he performed a U-turn on the idea in the run-up to the 2021 mayoral election campaign.
But a planning inspector over-ruled that declaration, and awarded the government’s land agency Homes England permission, despite cross-party agreement at City Hall that the Meadows should be protected.
After winning permission, Homes England signed a deal with Keepmoat to physically build the new homes, of which 78 will be classed as ‘affordable’, and now Keepmoat is returning to City Hall to ask for permission, after several public consultation exercises.
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“The proposed development will deliver 260 new homes 30 percent of which have been designated as affordable housing offering a vital boost to the city’s supply of genuinely affordable homes,” a spokesperson for Keepmoat said. “The plans also feature significant green open space and new pedestrian and cycle routes designed to enhance connectivity through the area.
An artist’s impression of Keepmoat Homes’ plan for 260 new homes on Brislington Meadows in South Bristol(Image: Keepmoat)
“The submission follows an extensive public consultation with residents and stakeholders across Brislington, which helped to shape and refine the plans for the new neighbourhood. Keepmoat’s detailed proposals focus on creating a sustainable, landscape-led community that complements the surrounding environment,” he added.
Residents living around Brislington Meadows have long fought for development to be stopped on what they say is a valuable area for wildlife. The council allocated it as somewhere to build on back in 2014, but that never happened until Labour Mayor Marvin Rees persuaded Homes England to buy the land for around £15 million in 2019, to kickstart the plans.
But then Marvin, now Lord, Rees had a change of heart, and after partnering with Avon Wildlife Trust, announced the land wouldn’t be built on, 20 days before the 2021 election. That proved out of his control – Homes England appealed and persuaded a Government planning inspector to give permission in principle, and two years on, the 260 homes plan is nearing the point where work could start in 2026.
Mayor Marvin Rees announced plans not to develop on the contested Brislington Meadows patch in Bristol in April 2021
From left: Tim Rippington (cllr for Brislington East), Kerry McCarthy (MP for Bristol East), Mayor Marvin Rees and Katja Hornchen (candidate for Brislington East).(Image: James Beck/BristolLive)
“We’re pleased to have reached this important milestone in the Brislington Meadows project,” a Keepmoat spokesperson said. “This application reflects months of engagement with local residents and our shared ambition to create a neighbourhood that puts nature, quality, and community at its heart.
“Bristol faces an acute shortage of quality, affordable homes. Our plans for Brislington Meadows aim to help address that challenge by creating a sustainable, nature-rich community that local people can be proud of,” he added.